Overview

As UIS progressed from Academic Reorganization to Academic Revitalization, funds were made available to implement initiatives to increase enrollment at UIS. Proposals for the $2.5 million funding pool were considered in several rounds. Funded Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) proposals are highlighted in the accordion menu below.

SIF-CBM 4 High School Trading Competition

Proposal: Department of Accounting, Economics, and Finance (AEF) faculty will work with local high schools in Springfield at the beginning of the school year to organize a competition in which students will trade stocks using fictitious money on a free platform called MarketWatch. At the end of the one-semester competition, we will offer UIS scholarships to the top five performers, measured by the rate of return on their initial investments. We will open the competition to all high school students (not just seniors) to reach as many students as possible.

Amount committed: $10,000

 

SIF-CHST 1 Health Sciences Online MLT-MLS Articulation

Proposal: The Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) Program will develop an online medical laboratory technician (MLT) to MLS articulation program for students who have 1) successfully completed an associate-level, accredited medical laboratory technician (MLT) program, 2) obtained professional MLT certification, and 3) worked in a medical laboratory as an MLT for at least one year.

Amount committed: $16,425

SIF-CHST 16 Health Sciences Anatomage Teaching and Learning Laboratories

Proposal: Construct two learning labs for the School of Integrated Sciences, Sustainability, and Public Health (ISP) and School of Health Sciences (HSC). Each learning laboratory will include one convertible Anatomage Table, two large displays, an instructor station with control systems, and several active learning tables with displays. The construction of two facilities will address potential time conflicts that would occur in one facility. The Anatomage Taskforce members are dedicated to collaborative work between the units and are committed to sharing the facilities when additional usage is desired.

Amount committed: $114,650

SIF-CPAE 7 Child Advocacy Studies Training (CAST) Curriculum Revitalization

Proposal: Solidify CAST-Human Services Program connections and create recruitment pipelines through accelerated degrees.

Amount committed: $10,843

SIF-R1 Human Development Counseling Program Counseling and Therapy Training Center and Psychology Department Training and Research Labs

Proposal: The Human Development Counseling Program (HDC) and Psychology Department (PSY) seek to update their separate training and research lab facilities and install an integrated software package that would allow both units to record, review, and manage high-quality audio and video using present-day technologies.

Amount committed: $141,144

SIF-R2 ISP Centralized Equipment Facility for Teaching and Research

Proposal: Establish a Centralized Equipment Facility for teaching and research in science at UIS.

Amount committed: $409,614

SIF-R3 SOE Reinventing Possible in Education II

Proposal: Create Restorative Practices Teaching and Learning Lab, revitalize early childhood curriculum, and create a new academic program for Physical Education.

Amount committed: $251,450

SIF-R4 ISP Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science

Proposal: Create a new BS in Environmental Science major for attracting additional enrollment growth to UIS and for addressing societal needs.

Amount committed: $214,950